The European Commission has today put forward a long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas, identifying the challenges and concerns that they are facing, as well as highlighting some of the most promising opportunities that are available to these regions. Based on foresight and wide consultations with citizens and other actors in rural areas, today’s Vision […]
Report calls for global action for better resilience to droughts
Marking today’s World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, a new report calls for better coordination to manage the risk of severe droughts, as climate change brings increasing global temperatures and disrupts rainfall patterns. The report highlights the deep and widespread impacts of droughts, beyond the already high direct costs. Costs stemming from indirect impacts […]
Why are squid and very tiny animals being sent into Earth’s orbit?
NASA launches baby squid and water bears to the International Space Station (ISS). From worms to quail, the ISS has housed all kinds of creatures great and small over the years. Animal research in space is about to welcome some new members to the club. Aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, 128 baby glow-in-the-dark bobtail squid […]
Accelerated rates of change in Earth’s vegetation go back thousands of years
According to a new study, the world’s plant communities are changing at least as fast today as they did when the planet was coming out of the last ice age about 11 000 years ago. Climate changes and human activities have transformed our planet’s ecosystems over the last 18 000 years. While scientists know a […]
The specific control campaign of the bluefin tuna purse seine and traps kicks off
EFCA is coordinating the control campaign for the bluefin tuna fishery (BFT) in the Mediterranean Sea for 2021 in the framework of its Joint Deployment Plan (JDP). In this context, Member States pool their control and inspection means, in order to carry out jointly control, inspection and surveillance of fishery activities both at sea and […]
Protein-rich legumes and quinoa in the plant-based food alternatives spotlight
EU-funded researchers say chickpeas, fava beans, lentils and quinoa are ideal crops for cultivation in Europe and could help the shift towards a more nutritional, environmentally friendly and sustainable food system. Not all crops are traded across the globe. Some are only important at a regional level and are typically eaten as part of local […]
Rights of EU citizens living in the UK
What are the rights of EU citizens living in the UK? Do you have EU citizen family or friends living in the UK? Have they already applied for settled status? The deadline is 30 June. The application process is now available. Since the UK left the European Union, millions of EU citizens living in […]
How long can we live?
Scientists say there’s a maximum age humans can reach. Whether it’s with cryogenic chambers or biohacking, we’re waiting for the day that modern technology will permit us to live much longer than ever before – or even forever. A study published in the journal ‘Nature Communications’ claims these ambitions will remain the stuff of science […]
Spain wins the Environment category of the LIFE Awards
The three winners of the LIFE 2021 awards, which recognise the most innovative, inspiring and effective projects funded by the European Commission’s LIFE programme, were announced on 2 June. This year, a project from the Balearic Islands was the winner in the Environment category. Slovakia won in the Nature category and France in the Climate […]